The Daily Inter Lake swept the category for best column writing in the Montana Newspaper Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest.

The trifecta was a highlight for the Daily Inter Lake staff, which garnered 18 total awards in the 2021 contest. The honors were announced at the Montana Newspaper Association’s annual convention held Saturday in Big Sky. The Inter Lake competes in a division against other large daily newspapers in the state.

News editor Lynnette Hintze claimed first and second place in the column writing category for her bi-weekly column “As I See It,” which has appeared in the Inter Lake for 15 years. Hintze has penned various other columns throughout her 42-year newspaper career.

Community editor Carol Marino placed third for her bi-weekly column “Good News,” which has appeared in the Inter Lake since 2003.

“Lynnette and Carol have opened their lives to readers in a meaningful way — sharing the cheerful highlights and sorrowful moments, as well as the wholly ordinary items that we can all relate to and laugh along with,” commented Inter Lake Managing Editor Matt Baldwin. “It’s the personal touch that sets their column writing apart as the best in Montana.”

Sports writer Fritz Neighbor also garnered recognition for his weekly column “Full Count,” placing third in the sports category.

“Fritz’s breadth of knowledge about Montana sports is unmatched and that shines through in his writing,” Baldwin commented.

Reporter Mackenzie Reiss earned first-place honors for her multi-media production looking at the impacts of Covid-19 on the Flathead Valley economy. It’s the second consecutive year Reiss has won the top award for video production.

The Inter Lake’s NW Montana Outdoors publication claimed the top prize for best magazine in the state, while the advertising team also earned first-place awards in two display ad categories. Judges highlighted the outdoors magazine's photography and design, and called it "a keeper."

"We're incredibly proud of the strong work our entire Montana team put into NW Montana Outdoors," said Inter Lake Advertising Director Anton Kaufer. "This new seasonal magazine was a collaboration between multiple news and advertising teams during the middle of the pandemic and the feedback from the community has been positive."

Reporter Kianna Gardner's coverage of documented deficiencies at a local long-term care facility was selected in the highly competitive investigative journalism and continuing coverage categories. Judges commented that Gardner's reporting was well-cited and ultimately resulted in a U.S. senator calling for an investigation.

"The story raises multiple issues and includes accounts from the families affected," the judge noted.

THE COMPLETE list of Inter Lake award-winners are as follows:

Breaking news report: Jeremy Weber, 2nd place

Best lifestyle coverage: Jeremy Weber, 3rd place

Continuing news coverage: Kianna Gardner, 3rd place

Investigative journalism: Kianna Gardner, 2nd place

Column writing: Lynnette Hintze 1st place, 2nd place; Carol Marino 3rd place

Sports column writing: Fritz Neighbor, 3rd place

Headline writing: Heidi Gaiser, 2nd place

Sports page design: Katie Brown, 3rd place

Sports photo: Casey Kreider, 2nd place

Best online ad: Kevin O’Day, Anita Emerson, Dorothy Meyer, 2nd place

Best ad to sell or promote services: Becky Lee, 1st place

Best sponsor page: Becky Lee, 2nd place

Best use of local photos in an ad: Becky Lee, 1st place

Best video: Mackenzie Reiss, 1st place.

Best special section: NW Montana Outdoors, 2nd place

Best niche: NW Montana Outdoors, 1st place

THE BILLINGS Gazette won the Sam Gilluly Award for best daily newspaper, and the Flathead Beacon won the Thomas Dimsdale Award for best weekly. The Mel Ruder Photograph of the Year award went to Roger Dey of the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch.

Also honored at the MNA convention, John Kuglin, former Associated Press bureau chief, was inducted into the Montana Newspaper Hall of Fame. Kuglin was selected because of his four-decade dedication to quality Montana journalism, and his unrelenting defense of open government and the public's constitutional right to know. The hall of fame was established by the Montana Newspaper Association and the University of Montana to honor Montana journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the profession, the arts and their community.  

Glendive Ranger-Review Publisher Chad Knudson was honored with the 2021 Master Editor/Publisher Award for his demonstrated contributions to the Montana newspaper industry.

Suzanne Resch, general manager of The Western News in Libby, was honored with the 2021 Dick Crockford Distinguished Service Award for her continued above and beyond performance and results. Inter Lake Publisher Rick Weaver presented Resch with the award.